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Stochastic Forecasts of the Social Security Trust Fund
by Ronald D. Lee, Michael W. Anderson and Shripad Tuljapurkar
WP 2003-043
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We present stochastic forecasts of the Social Security trust fund by modeling key
demographic and economic variables as historical time series, and using the fitted models
to generate computer simulations of future fund performance. We evaluate several plans
for achieving long-term solvency by raising the normal retirement age (NRA), increasing
taxes, or investing some portion of the fund in the stock market.
Stochastic population trajectories by age and sex are generated using the Lee-Carter and
Lee- Tuljapurkar mortality and fertility models. Interest rates, wage growth and equities
returns are modeled as vector autoregressive processes. With the exception of mortality,
central tendencies are constrained to the Intermediate assumptions of the 2002 Trustees
Report. Combining population forecasts with forecasted per-capita tax and benefit
profiles by age and sex, we obtain inflows to and outflows from the fund over time,
resulting in stochastic fund trajectories and distributions.
Under current legislation, we estimate the chance of insolvency by 2038 to be 50%,
although the expected fund balance stays positive until 2041. An immediate 2% increase
in the payroll tax rate from 12.4% to 14.4% sustains a positive expected fund balance
until 2078, with a 50% chance of solvency through 2064. Investing 60% of the fund in
the S&P 500 by 2015 keeps the expected fund balance positive until 2060, with a 50%
chance of solvency through 2042. An increase in the NRA to age 69 by 2024 keeps the
expected fund balance positive until 2047, with a 50% chance of solvency through 2041.
A combination of raising the payroll tax to 13.4%, increasing the NRA to 69 by 2024,
and investing 25% of the fund in equities by 2015 keeps the expected fund balance
positive past 2101 with a 50% chance of solvency through 2077.
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